(a) If the commission determines that the proposed transfer is an integral part of the region's overall plan to improve mobility in the region, the department will:

(1) hold one or more public hearings in each county in which the project is located for the purpose of seeking oral comments;

(2) hold one or more informal public meetings, which will be held, if practicable, in the project area; and

(3) solicit written comments.

(b) Notice of a solicitation of written comments, a public meeting, and a public hearing held under subsection (a) of this section will be:

(1) published in the Texas Register;

(2) published in one or more newspapers of general circulation in each of the counties in which the ferry is located;

(3) published in a newspaper, if any, published in each of the counties of the applicable authority;

(4) posted on the department's website, with a link to the RMA's website, if available; and

(5) posted on the RMA's website, if available, with a link to the department's website.

(c) The department will publish and post notices under subsection (b) of this section at least 10 days prior to the date of a hearing or meeting.

(d) A notice published or posted under subsection (b) of this section will inform the public that the RMA's request and any studies submitted by the RMA in support of the request are available for review at one or more designated offices of the department and can be found on the websites of the department and, if available, the RMA. The notice will provide the links to the request and studies. The department will not make studies available on the websites if it determines such action to be impractical due to size of the files.

Source Note: The provisions of this §26.42 adopted to be effective March 18, 2004, 29 TexReg 2722; amended to be effective January 5, 2006, 30 TexReg 8999